EARLY IN THE MORNING DO I CRY UNTO THEE."
JESUS, by whose grace I live,
From the fear of evil kept,
Thou hast lengthened my reprieve,
Held in being while I slept;
With the day my heart renew,
Let me wake Thy will to do.
Since the last revolving dawn
Scattered the nocturnal cloud,
O how many souls have gone,
Unprepared to meet their God!
Yet Thou dost prolong my breath,
Nor hast sealed my eyes in death!
O that I may keep Thy word,
Taught by Thee to watch and pray!
To Thy service, dearest Lord,
Sanctify the present day:
Swift its fleeting moments haste;
Doomed, perhaps, to be my last!
Crucified to all below,
Earth shall never be my care; Wealth and honour I forego,
This my only wish and prayer ;Thine in life and death to be, Now, and to eternity!
I WILL PUT THEE IN A CLEFT OF THE ROCK."
ROCK of ages! cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Cleanse me from its guilt and power!
Not the labour of my hands
Can fulfil Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone!
Nothing in my hand I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Vile, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment-throne,-
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!
"IN THE NIGHT HIS SONG SHALL BE WITH ME."
WHAT though my frail eyelids refuse
Continual watchings to keep,
And, punctual as midnight renews,
Demand the refreshment of sleep;
A Sovereign Protector I have,
Unseen, yet for ever at hand,
Unchangeably faithful to save,
Almighty to rule and command.
From evil secure, and its dread,
I rest, if my Saviour is nigh;
And songs his kind presence, indeed,
Shall in the night season supply;
He smiles, and my comforts abound,
His grace as the dew shall descend,
And walls of salvation surround
The soul he delights to defend.
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